ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. charge — a price
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. current — of water
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. charge — in control
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. charge — electricity
  12. current — electric
  13. dip — to sink
  14. prune — to trim
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. prune — to trim
  17. game — wild animals
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. game — a match
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. current — happening now
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. pitch — a sports field

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com